NPD offers reward for 3 men in cop's slay

MANILA, Philippines - The Northern Police District has released computer-generated images of three men seen killing an NPD policeman in a photo shop in Caloocan City Monday night and is offering P50,000 for their arrest, officials said yesterday.

NPD director Chief Superintendent Antonio Decano said Senior Police Officer 2 Enrie Escalaw, 45, was shot dead by at least two men, with the third acting as a lookout.

The gunmen are reportedly members of a crime gang whose alleged leader, Blandino Bansalan, was killed last month by a team led by Escalaw.

NPD deputy director for operations Senior Superintendent Wilson Amper, who heads a task force investigating Escalaw’s murder, said they hope that the P50,000 reward would “persuade” the public to help the police.

After office hours, Escalaw dropped by the Yes Photoshop just a few meters from the police station, to have some pictures printed. As he entered the shop, the gunmen followed and shot him repeatedly.

Police autopsy results show he had nine bullet wounds in the head, body and upper arms.

Witnesses said the gunmen continued to shoot Escalaw as he fell to the floor. Before leaving the crime scene, they took the victim’s sidearm, a 9mm Beretta pistol.

According to witnesses, one of the gunmen said more police officers will be killed after they got even with Escalaw.